{% include "includes/auth/janrain/signIn_traditional.html" with message='It looks like you are already verified. If you still have trouble signing in, you probably need a new confirmation link email.' %}

DIGITAL SAVANT MICRO

What is a ‘Full stack developer?’

One of the buzzwords over the last few years in the world of tech hiring has been “Full stack developer,” a kind of catch-all phrase that can mean “we want a person who can do it all.” But what does “Full stack” actually mean, outside of a tall order of pancakes for very hungry breakfast eaters?

The website SitePoint defines the term as a programmer who is comfortable on both the “Back end” and “front end” of a tech project such as creating websites. In that example, it would mean someone who is comfortable working with databases and scripting languages such as PHP and JavaScript, but also design. The term can be a little daunting: it can presume a tech worker can do almost anything involving programming and code, which may be a little unrealistic. A better definition might be someone who is comfortable with different coding languages and development tools and is amenable to learning new ones or adapting as specific needs arise.

Every week, we’ll define a tech term, offer a timely tip or answer questions about technology from readers. Email ogallaga@statesman.com with questions or topic suggestions.

News on Open Source is free and unlimited. Access to the rest of 512tech.com comes with an American-Statesman digital subscription, which also includes myStatesman.com and the ePaper edition. Subscribe at statesman.com/subscribe.